The Latour family has been proprietors of a part of Romanée-Saint-Vivant since December 1898. "Les Quatre Journaux" is a magnificent plot of land situated at the South-West of Romanée Saint Vivant, a few meters from the Romanée-Conti vineyard. A "Journal"Cuvée Héritiers Latour" is an old Burgundian measurement corresponding to approximately 0.4 hectares (34,28 ares). Even though the Latours' initial purchase carried the entirety of the plot, half of it was sold some years later. Today Maison Louis Latour owns 0.8 hectares of Romanée-Saint-Vivant. It offers a marvelously aromatic wine, with a velvety texture which culminates in a persistent and powerful finish in the mouth. It is one of our greatest red wines.

Vinification & Ageing

Fermentation

Traditional in open vats

Ageing

10 to 12 months ageing in oak barrels, 100% new

Barrels

Louis Latour cooperage, french oak, medium toasted

Wine tasting

Tasting Note

A medium dark colour and an evocative feminine nose. This wine appeared rich and sweet with an aromatic bouquet. The palate was silky smooth with pronounced cigar box aromas. The tannins seemed to rest at the top of the mouth and slowly drip, unnoticed, onto the tongue. The finish was long and voluptuous showing some green fruit and hints of chocolate - this is a wine of breeding and distinction.

Food Pairing

Hare - duck and truffle parmentier - mature cheeses

Press review

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2016 - James Suckling - February 2018 - 100/100This is a grand cru that shows its intensity and complexity and
greatness from the beginning. Blackberry, licorice and stone aromas.
Full body and a center palate that shows ripe fruit and full richness.
Then the tannins kick in. Great wine. Drink in 2024.

Very pure dense purple, a nose of great quality and precision, this is a substantial, vibrant Romanée St Vivant. It offers a huge wealth of really classy fruit, which surges across the palate, quality and density both very impressive. Pretty persistent at the back, the vineyard is in control here. Great density again at the finish, tannins present but overlaid by the front, enough acidity. (Tasted prior to bottling)

Though packed with black currant, blueberry, and cherry fruit, this red is wrapped up in a firm structure today, giving an austere feel. All the components are in the right proportion and there's no denying the saturated aftertaste that echoes the core of cherry.

Excellent concentration to the succulent, lacy and almost delicate mid-palate
that contrasts considerably with the sappy, powerful and equally long finale.
This is a powerful RSV that should reward extended keeping. 2030+ Allen Meadows (USA)

So perfumed and
aromatic with fabulous character of flowers, dark berries and chalk.
Full-bodied and voluptuous. Ripe and velvety tannins and a long and flavorful
finish. A wine with great potential and depth. Flamboyant. Drink in 2022.

Super-ripe but not jammy
nose of exquisite fruit showing great purity and finesse. This is a seamless
wine with seductive fruit and a firm, tannic structure. Poised, intense and
very long, with an impeccable balance. Drink
2020-2040.
(UK)

A beautiful and sexy red with blueberry and blackberry character. Hints
of coffee and spices. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a
flavorful finish. Very fine and pretty. Delicious now, but there's
plenty of backbone and structure for the future. Powerful underneath it
all. Drink or hold.

This elegant version exudes black currant,
cherry, boysenberry and spice flavors, tinged by violet hints. Though lean and
taut, this finishes long, with grainy tannins coming to the fore. Should unwind
nicely in two to three years. Best from 2019 through 2035. By Bruce Sanderson (USA)

A Journal is an old Burgundian measurement for just under one acre. From
a portion of this Grand Cru vineyard, this wine is perfumed, powerful and has
great concentration. Already it is showing dark fruits, ripe plum and good
texture. Acidity cuts through the wine, giving a great lift at the end. Drink
from 2022.

This was just amazing for its opulence and freshness, a wine that has weight as well as utter refinement. Ripe red and dark fruits abound, black cherry and cassis, with some floral and touches of pepper on the juicy full bodied palate, that has a silky texture. Yes, there was some oak derivation but quite well integrated and a very long finish. Greatness.

A gorgeously complex and intensely spicy nose offers up notes of plum, cassis, black cherry, dried rose petal and sandalwood. The silky, supple and energetic middle weight flavors possess a highly sophisticated mouth feel that is enhanced by the notably fine-grained tannins that appear on the caressing and harmonious finale that delivers simply marvelous length. This too is going to need ample time but in contrast to some of the bigger and more powerful wines in the range, this should be approachable after only 7 to 8 years of cellaring. /2029+

A very subtle aromatic start. Here is width,
layers, a good faintly grained texture, waves of slowly rolling flavours. A
little diffuse that whole performance today, but there is weight,
concentration, complexity and interest. I think it will be excellent. The last
drops in the glass have more overt weight and interest - surely will be a super
wine. (cask sample). By Bill Nanson (UK)

Alluring peony, strawberry and
wild cherry aromas offer immediate appeal, with accents of white pepper and
mineral on the palate. The finish suggests deferring enjoyment for another
three to five years. Shows fine harmony and length overall. Best from 2019
through 2033. By Bruce Sanderson (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Quatres Journeaux" 2013 - The World of Fine Wine - 2015 - 17,5/20Waxy raspberry nose, oaky and aromatic. Quite rich and juicy, concentrated with ripe tannins. This is lively and persistent and has intensity, drive, and lenght.

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2013 - Burgundy Report - December 2014 - "Very fine wine""Deep colour again. Again a mix of floral and deeper notes, but this time with more aromatic weight and some saltiness. Really still a step-up in concentration, weight and texture. There's a fine high-toned flavour component too. The finish is fine but more discrete. Very fine wine indeed! We can always quibble about value but bravo!

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatres Journaux" 2013 - Wine Advocate - December 2014 - 91/100The 2013 Romanée-Saint-Vivant "Les Quatre Journaux”
has a very floral bouquet with violets and lily scents augmenting the perfumed
red fruit that is designed to flatter. The palate is medium-bodied with supple
tannins, quite edgy in the mouth with satisfactory depth and quite structured
toward the more Richebourg-like finish. It needs a little more clarity and
detail, although there is respectable length.

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2012 - The World of Fine Wine - December 2015 - 17.5/20The classiest nose of three Romanée-St-Vivant, mineral-rich red berry fruit, effortless and a surfeit of class. The palate is medium-bodied, with the delineation, wonderful acidity and poise, silky smooth in the mouth with great precision on the lightly spiced finish.

The 2012 Romanée St Vivant
les Quatre Journaux Grand Cru from Louis Latour has the classiest nose of three
Romanée Saint Vivant encountered, mineral-rich red berry fruit, effortless and
surfeit with class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation,
wonderful acidity and poise, silky smooth in the mouth with great precision on
the lightly spiced finish. This might just well be the best recent vintage of
any wine that I have ever tasted from Louis Latour. To say it drew gasps of
surprise when its identity is revealed is no exaggeration. By Neal Martin (USA)

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2012 - Burgundy Report - June 2014 - "Wide"The aromas are modest, indeed rather shy, but there's a fine black cherry note. The tannic structure has a bit more stickiness but no real grain. The mid-palate flavour is very wide, and it keeps this same shape right into the finish - maybe there's a little licorice and faint oak texture here too - of-course that texture will already be gone by the time you have a chance to open a bottle... - Bill Nanson

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2012 - Burghound.com - April 2014 - 92/100This possesses what is arguably the prettiest nose in the range with its lilting and attractively layered nose of Vosne style spices, red currant, plum and violet scents. There is a velvety texture to the highly sophisticated and delicious middle weight flavors that display fine mid-palate concentration before terminating in a beautifully complex, balanced and dusty finish. This is quite firmly structured and while the descriptor robust is rarely used in conjunction with the typical RSV, this example might very well qualify. 2024+. By Allen Meadows (USA)

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatres Journaux" 2011 - Wine Enthusiast - September 2014 - 93/100Solid and tannic, it perhaps lacks huge weight but shows elegant structure and rounded tannins. The wine is already deliciously fruity, and will charm as it ages. Black fruits are right up front, the tannins a fine supporting act. Drink from 2017.-R.V.

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2011 - Wine Spectator - June 2014 - 94/100An expressive, fluid red, with cherry, raspberry, spice and mineral flavors riding the vibrant structure to a lingering conclusion. The tannins show up on the finish but are buffered by sweet fruit. Best from 2016 through 2030. By Bruce Sanderson (USA)

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2011 - Allen Meadows - Burghound.com - May 2013 - 94/100There is a hint of kirsch to the exuberantly spicy, elegant and admirably pure nose that also offers up both red and dark pinot fruit scents. There is a sophisticated mouth feel thanks to the very fine-grained tannins that shape the detailed and vibrant middle weight flavors that terminate in a beautifully complex, palate coating and moderately austere finish. This is often Latour's finest red and it would appear to have that potential in 2011 as well. Note that this too will need extended cellaring to reveal its full potential. 2023+

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru « Les Quatre Journaux » 2011 - The World of Fine Wine - February 2013 - 17+/20Slightly candied nose, cherries and bonbons. Juicy attack, with good weight of fruit and firm but ripe tannins. This gains substance in the mid-palate, which is firm and quite structured. Needs time to harmonize. Quite good length. By Stephen Brook (UK).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2010 - Burghound.com - April 2012 - 94/100This is spicier than and not quite as cool and fresh as the Chambertin though that is natural as the terroir of Chambertin is much colder than that of Romanée St. Vivant. There is good depth to the plum, violet and cassis suffused nose that is trimmed in discreet wood before introducing mouth coating and velvety flavors that are supported by refined tannins and excellent balance and serious persistence. This appears to be at the head of the class of the Latour 2010s. By Allen Meadows (USA)

Romanée Saint-Vivant "Les Quatre Journaux" 2009 - The International Wine & Food Society - October 2017 Remember Louis Paul visiting Vancouver in March 1982 and serving the
1964 of this wine which he described as "elegance yet power and strength
but with round finesse". Owners since 1898 but now only 8 hectares of
distinctive iron based clay. Outstanding site only a few metres from the
famous Romanee-Conti vineyard. Very fruit driven year of 2009 shows an
earlier accessible style with wonderful so called "feminine" finesse.
100% new oak blends with the classy terroir aromatics and that
unbelievable velvety smooth texture already starting to emerge. Great
wine here!

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2009 - Wine Spectator - USA - November 2011 - 93/100This ripe, lush red displays cherry and blackberry aromas and lavors, picking up hints of clove, vanilla and licorice as this glides to a long inish. There's a sweetness at the core, yet also irm tannins. The impression is one of ripe fruit. Best from 2013 through 2026. (USA)

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2009 - Burghound.com - May 2011 - 94/100A highly spiced, pure and elegant nose that is sheer class in a glass complements perfectly the rich yet well-detailed flavors blessed with an abundance of dry extract that culminate in a delicious, complex, long and beautifully balanced finish. This stunning effort is easily the best wine in the range in 2009 and should amply reward long-term cellaring. 2024+. By Allen Meadows (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2009 - The World of Fine Wine - March 2011 - 17.5/20Fine, violet-tinted robe, seductive, spiced violets-over-rocks bouquet, complex and intense; a sensuous, silken texture enhances the impression given by the nose; new oak adds a vanilla-richness, but is quite assertive for now. Needs time to integrate. By Michael Edwards (UK).

Romanée Saint Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatres Journaux" 2008 - Wine Enthusiast - December 2010 - 91/100For a GrandCru from Vosne-Romanée, this is a wine on the light side, its tannins soft and still a fine wine, packed with ripe fruit and fresh acidity. The structure floats over the fruit; a few months and it may fatten out. By Roger Voss, USA.

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2008 - Allen Meadows' Burghound - April 2010 - 93/100A subtle touch of wood sets off a strikingly elegant and very pinot nose interlaced with spice, violet and soft earth notes that can also be found on the complex and youthfully austere flavors that possess really lovely finishing balance and excellent length. This is not especially dense yet it actually is relatively powerful for RSV plus there is a beguiling sense of harmony and completeness here. 93/2013+

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2006 - Wine Spectator - May 2009 - 93/100Not showing much now, but there's a core of cherry, berry and mineral flavors allied to a solid structure. Everything seems to be in the right proportion, and the aftertaste is pure and long. Best from 2012 through 2025. By Bruce Sanderson (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2006 - Burghound.com - April 2008 - 91-94/100This is at once more elegant and spicier with a lovely panoply of rose petal, violets, anise, cinnamon and clove adding nuance to the largely red berry fruit aromas that are very pure and highly expressive while introducing classy and wonderfully complex, intense and detailed flavors that possess ample minerality on the balanced and refined finish. This is very RSV in character and displays real breed. 2014+. By Allen Meadows (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 2005 - Burghound.com - April 2007 - 93/100This is wonderfull spicy with a broad mix of spice hints adding interest to the violet and blue fruit aromas where the violet character continues onto the floral medium full flavors that have almost as much power as the Chambertin. A big and borderline robust RSV underpinned by exceptionally firm but not aggressive structural elements and this will clearly need plenty of time to reach its majority.

2004 Romanée Saint Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" - Burghound.com - April 2006 - 90-92 points : A step up in elegance and this offers a completely different aromatic profile with its spicy black fruit nose and classy, round yet detailed and very fresh flavors that are both classy and quite stylish, all wrapped in a velvely, mouth coating finish. This is really a lovely wine and easily the best in the range.

2003 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" - Burghound.com - April 2005 - 93 points :As it often is, this is the tête de cuvée of the cellar with its explossive and ultra classy nose featuring wonderfully spice, pure complex and ripe sexy black pinot fruit aromas and sweet, round, brillantly defined and concentrated flavors that culminate in a velvet wrapped and hugely long finish. This has all of the refinement that one expects from a classic RSV but with the concentration and power than 2003 brings. In a word, beautiful. 93/2015+

2002 Romanée Saint Vivant "Les Quatre Journaux" - TheFineWineTimes.com - February 11th, 2010:Another great wine where the Louis Latour style gets a chance to really shine. These wines are never crafted to be the richest or most concentrated wines on the market-they purposely craft them this way-they are the original terriorists. Bottle age is a requirement for these wines and they do gain richness(with the lesser cuvees) and complexity (as the quality increases) with age. This was a good example where the LL style really has a lot to say for itself. Black cherries, raspberries, all sorts of minerals, hints of undergrowth, bright flowers and exotic spices are gently interwoven to the core of this wine. Still sturdy with fine tannins and high-toned acidity. Medium-bodied but gently concentrated with a long, fine mineral finish.

2002 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" - Guide Hachette des Vins 2006 : “Les Quatres Journaux” forms one of the historical “clos” of the Saint-Vivant-de-Vergy monastry in Romanée. After the French revolution, it became Marey and Marey-Monge, until 1898 when the vineyard was bought by Latour. Since the 17th century there has been only a handful of owners. Its appearance is light and fresh, on the nose this 2002 is at once vegetal and fruity. Despite its simplicity, it manages to maintain its elegance. It is soft, silky and smooth.

2001 Romanée-Saint-Vivant « Les Quatre Journaux » – Guide Fleurus des Vins 2004 - 19/20 :Black chery colour with intense purple tints. The nose is pure, very fine and more elegant than dense, exhaling cherry aromas. A ripe fleshy flavour sustained by fine and fat tannins structures the mouth. Elegant and pure finish. The wine expresses both the purity of Pinot Noir and the greatness of the terroir from which it originates.

1997 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru “Les Quatre Journaux” – Hachette Wine Guide :It is a liquoricey, silky wine, not so much Chartres Cathedral in its structure as a romanesque church, built on balanced, elegant lines.

1985 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" - Burghound, Allen Meadows - February 2009 - 89 points:Relatively heavy bricking. A fully mature nose that now shows tertiary signs as well as sous bois and lovely spice notes that move into wonderfully complex middle weight flavors that are fresher than the nose would otherwise suggest though not particularly concentrated, all wrapped in a delicious and stylish finish that has a touch of acidity poking through that cuts it a bit short. This is supple, round, forward and easy to like but it's clear that it's time to drink up. 89/now

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 1966 - Burghound.com - April 2005 - 91/100An elegant, indeed almost delicate, perfumed and beguiling nose of spice, earth, smoke, leather and a hint of truffle introduce delicious, nicely intense and focused middle weight flavors of real purity and grace. This is remarkably good with serious depth and sneaky length plus a palate impression that is almost weightless. In short, this is a really lovely older burg that retains good vibrancy and backend lift. Drink now and over the next decade. By Allen Meadows (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journeaux" 1959 - Burghound.com - April 2005 - 90/100Light ruby but very little bricking. An ultra elegant and still nicely fresh and pure nose that displays abundant and seductive spice notes is followed by impressively intense, precise and an edgy, exceptionally rich and slightly heavy finish. The nose is a true knockout and I could simply smell this wine and enjoy it. This is drinking perfectly now and there is no rush to drink up though neither is there any reason to delay further. By Allen Meadows (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 1953 - Burghound.com - April 2005 - 92/100With the exception of a slightly shorter finish, this was exactly like the bottle reviewed in Issue 17, which is repeated here: Excellent vibrancy with a distinctly spicy sous bois nose that merges seamlessly into velvety, rich, indeed even opulent flavors that offer impressive length and that wonderful element of breed. A very fine showing for what was a relatively soft vintage. In short, this is a really lovely wine that is still drinking brilliantly. By Allen Meadows (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 1945 - Burghound.com - April 2005 - 94/100Wow, what an incredible nose of soaring spice-infused aromas, including notes of hoisin, clove, cinnamon and soy plus earth, leather and smoke that introduce sappy, sweet and beautifully complex full-bodied and still vibrant and moderately structured flavors that offer both serious power and length. This is an elegant and refined wine that still has plenty of muscle and shows off the underlying strength of the '45 vintage. This is still in fine form, showing absolutely no signs of fatigue and it should continue to last for another 2 decades if well stored. In a word, dazzling. By Allen Meadows (USA).

Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru "Les Quatre Journaux" 1929 - Burghound.com - April 2005 - 91/100Wonderfully spicy, opulent and expressive. This is like a well spiced jasmine tea bag as it's both exotic and fresh nuanced by caramel and toffee notes. The highly complex, rich and full-bodied flavors are gorgeously textured and coat the palate while extending on to the impressively long finish. This would rate substantially higher if it weren't for a bit of intrusive acidity that is now slowly beginning to take over the finish. Still, this is a really lovely older burg that may be gently declining but this is most impressive all the same. While there is no rush to drink this, neither is there is reason to delay opening one if you're lucky enough to own it. By Allen Meadows (USA).

CLUB

By subscribing to the club you have the possibility to occasionally receive some news from the Domaine and the latest press releases and tasting notes. In addition, you will be able to follow with us the evolution of the vine throughout the year.